Looks Like Everything's Changing with the Cowboys..........

[CloakNNNdagger]

..........exception Jerruh. Besides the recent Ratliff DUI/accident (still awaiting BAC levels), the Cowboys are apparently headed for ultra turmoil. I expect Jerruh to take over HC duties to go along with his pristine handling of the GM position.

Much is left unanswered at Valley Ranch

We left for the Senior Bowl on Monday in search of answers.

All we got from Dallas Cowboys officials was confusion.

PODCAST
Ed Werder joins Ben and Skin to talk about Troy Aikman's recent comments about Jason Garrett, the ties the new Cowboys coaches have with Jon Gruden and Jerry Jones' continued unwillingness to fire Garrett.

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What we do know is that Jerry Jones has hinted that Jason Garrett won't call plays in 2013. Jones didn't say who would call plays, but all indications are that offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Callahan will take over those duties.

It would appear to be a step back for Garrett, but Jones has tried spin the situation so that it doesn't look like a demotion for his head coach. Jones' preference to have a "walk-around" coach represents a change in thinking. It was just a few months ago that Jones shared a story of how former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said it was best for a head coach to call plays on either the offense or defense. That way, Gibbs said, it gives the appearance the coach had a hand in a victory or defeat.

Jones hired head coaches Chan Gailey, Wade Phillips and Garrett under this model. Now it seems he is switching gears. Jones points out that Garrett will still have a hand in the day-to-day operations of the football team. Well, that's fine and good, but he's always had that.

Garrett has two years remaining on his contract, and if this whole thing doesn't work out with him in 2013 it's clear he won't get another year to fix it. Jones clearly appears to be taking more power away from Garrett by the day.

Garrett, however, has still been involved in the interview process for offensive coaches. The Cowboys need a running backs coach and tight ends coach and most likely a wide receivers coach. Garrett conducted interviews at the Senior Bowl, ducking out after watching a few moments of practices to greet coaches.

Then, of course, there's the issue of Rob Ryan's dismissal. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram had a report that Garrett said the defensive coordinator was let go because his unit didn't create enough turnovers. The Dallas Morning News countered that Garrett's comments about Ryan were taken out of context.

A few weeks ago, Jones said on KRLD-FM that part of the reason he let Ryan go was because of losses at Seattle and against Chicago, games he felt the defense didn't do its part.

Wait, there's more.

REST OF STORY

[Playoffs]

Oh football gods, please wave your magic wands and sprinkle enough pixie dust across the Cowgirls alter to convince Jerruh to take over as Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator!

Please,
please,
please,
please,
please,
please,
please,
please,
please,
please,
please.

[IDEXAN]

One thing about the Cowboys franchise, obviously don't need to be a winner to remain popular. Not sure why that is ?

[Stemp]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

One thing about the Cowboys franchise, obviously don't need to be a winner to remain popular. Not sure why that is ?

They are not as popular as they once were. They are slowly leaching fans and will continue to do so as their fans age and get tired of jerrah and as young fans pick new teams to follow.

[ESAD2-14]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

One thing about the Cowboys franchise, obviously don't need to be a winner to remain popular. Not sure why that is ?

Still a lot of fans around that remember the Superbowl teams from the 70's and 90's. Many of those fans passed their fandom down to kids. If Jerry continues jacking with the team the way he does the only thing he will have to root for is being #1 in merchandise sells. He put the money up for the team, guess he can do what he wants with it though. Who needs Madden franchise mode when you got the real deal.

[Playoffs]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

One thing about the Cowboys franchise, obviously don't need to be a winner to remain popular. Not sure why that is ?

Because they're on television in so many markets.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by Playoffs

Because they're on television in so many markets.

It seems like today, there are as many watching the Girls rooting they lose as those rooting for them to win. Jerruh has managed to turn this franchise totally around.......from winners to losers. He's basically made a business of making money by creating and promoting a loser.........genius.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Playoffs

Because they're on television in so many markets.

Which is a chicken and egg argument at best. They are on in so many markets because they are so popular. They were smart in having training camp in LA. They owned TX but for Houston. Half of LA were Cowboys fans. Basically lots of the country other than those with very nearby good teams became Cowboys fans. They were the white hats who waited for Rodger the Dodger to come back from serving his country in Vietnam. For goodness sakes the Loveboat used to have an annual episode with the Cowboys' cheerleaders. As ESAD said there are still a lot of folks around who remember both the '70's and '90's Cowboys teams. You've got the order backwards.

[houstonspartan]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Which is a chicken and egg argument at best. They are on in so many markets because they are so popular. They were smart in having training camp in LA. They owned TX but for Houston. Half of LA were Cowboys fans. Basically lots of the country other than those with very nearby good teams became Cowboys fans. They were the white hats who waited for Rodger the Dodger to come back from serving his country in Vietnam. For goodness sakes the Loveboat used to have an annual episode with the Cowboys' cheerleaders. As ESAD said there are still a lot of folks around who remember both the '70's and '90's Cowboys teams. You've got the order backwards.

Well said. I agree with this 100000 percent.

People are used to the Cowboys because they're shoved down our throats in major, national games; as a result, people are used to seeing them, and don't complain when they're bad because, well, they're the Cowboys, and we're used to seeing them so much.

If networks were to stop giving the Cowboys 900 primetime games every season, eventually viewers will stop caring.

'Round and round. Total chicken and egg scenario.

[HoustonFrog]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Which is a chicken and egg argument at best. They are on in so many markets because they are so popular. They were smart in having training camp in LA. They owned TX but for Houston. Half of LA were Cowboys fans. Basically lots of the country other than those with very nearby good teams became Cowboys fans. They were the white hats who waited for Rodger the Dodger to come back from serving his country in Vietnam. For goodness sakes the Loveboat used to have an annual episode with the Cowboys' cheerleaders. As ESAD said there are still a lot of folks around who remember both the '70's and '90's Cowboys teams. You've got the order backwards.

Well said. I'm part of that 70s kid fan group. People have to remember that.. And this was discussed in the dynasty thread...they won in 25 of 30 years from 65-95. Despite the downfall that's a track record that people hang on to. I'm frustrated with Jerry and think he is running things wrong but people still think he wants to win and will put money into the team. There are people who are moving away from the team but it is small compared to those holding out. Remember the Arizona games? 75% were Cowboy fans. They make any noise in the next few years and those who "left" will be back.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Which is a chicken and egg argument at best. They are on in so many markets because they are so popular. They were smart in having training camp in LA. They owned TX but for Houston. Half of LA were Cowboys fans. Basically lots of the country other than those with very nearby good teams became Cowboys fans. They were the white hats who waited for Rodger the Dodger to come back from serving his country in Vietnam. For goodness sakes the Loveboat used to have an annual episode with the Cowboys' cheerleaders. As ESAD said there are still a lot of folks around who remember both the '70's and '90's Cowboys teams. You've got the order backwards.

I think since they have been & remain competitive against the NFC East also helps. Around here, we've got people that love any team that plays the Cowboys...

I spent a little time in the North East this past summer, & there are a lot of people that feel that way about the local team. I talked to several people who were Cowboy fans (didn't even know we had a team) because they beat up on the 'skins.... or the Eagles.... I'm sure there are those that like the Cowboys because they beat up on the Giants.

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by HoustonFrog

Well said. I'm part of that 70s kid fan group. People have to remember that.. And this was discussed in the dynasty thread...they won in 25 of 30 years from 65-95. Despite the downfall that's a track record that people hang on to. I'm frustrated with Jerry and think he is running things wrong but people still think he wants to win and will put money into the team. There are people who are moving away from the team but it is small compared to those holding out. Remember the Arizona games? 75% were Cowboy fans. They make any noise in the next few years and those who "left" will be back.

If Jerry Jones is going to continue to run his team into the ground and only have coaches whom he likes I don't see things getting much better for the Cowboys over the short term (Which is probably not good for the "bandwagon" part of the Cowboys fanbase). He's going to continue to employ Jason "3rd Down Draw Play" Garrett as the HC while publicly stripping him of call playing duties and hand that on over to probably one of the worst coaches in the league currently. I just don't see much difference between him now, and what Al Davis had been for about the last 10 or so years (A running joke) and he even KNOWS that he is pretty much the problem and still won't hire a GM.

Lets just quietly gloss over firing the DC, and replacing him with a guy who was a brutal failure on the college scene (As a DC no less). Now I'm not the biggest Rob Ryan fan, I think he's an overrated loudmouthed fatty (Like his brother), but I just don't see how Kiffin is going to be that much of an improvement, or why he didn't just throw millions of dollars at Lovie Smith? Whatever they do, I hope they don't fire Garrett just to promote another yes man that's already on the staff.

[HoustonFrog]

Originally Posted by b0ng

If Jerry Jones is going to continue to run his team into the ground and only have coaches whom he likes I don't see things getting much better for the Cowboys over the short term (Which is probably not good for the "bandwagon" part of the Cowboys fanbase). He's going to continue to employ Jason "3rd Down Draw Play" Garrett as the HC while publicly stripping him of call playing duties and hand that on over to probably one of the worst coaches in the league currently. I just don't see much difference between him now, and what Al Davis had been for about the last 10 or so years (A running joke) and he even KNOWS that he is pretty much the problem and still won't hire a GM.

Lets just quietly gloss over firing the DC, and replacing him with a guy who was a brutal failure on the college scene (As a DC no less). Now I'm not the biggest Rob Ryan fan, I think he's an overrated loudmouthed fatty (Like his brother), but I just don't see how Kiffin is going to be that much of an improvement, or why he didn't just throw millions of dollars at Lovie Smith? Whatever they do, I hope they don't fire Garrett just to promote another yes man that's already on the staff.

Bolded cracks me up. Reminds me of when Ernie Zampese came in and used to call the same plays.

I agree with everything you said. People like to look at football games or teams in black and white. If you just looked at the scores and stats you'd say...the offense sure did carry the team and do well while the D was middle of the road. That simply wasn't true. I don't use injuries as excuses but overall I think Ryan did well with the issues they had to deal with. In fact the defense had to try and keep them in games while the offense floundered for half the season. The offense would then click in the 4th quarter and make a game of it while the defense was spent from being on the field all game. Yet Garret doesn't get held accountable and keeps his job and Ryan is the scapegoat.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/...calling-duties

The Cowboys consistently started slowly, especially at home, where they faced deficits of 7-0 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), 24-7 (Chicago Bears), 23-0 (New York Giants), 13-0 (Cleveland Browns), 28-3 (Washington Redskins), 14-3 (Philadelphia Eagles) and 31-17 (New Orleans Saints).

The Cowboys had a 7-0 lead just once all season, and that came in the finale at Washington. That's hard to do.

As you mentioned, the Kiffin thing is a question mark. The guy failed at USC and people say "well that's college and he didn't have the talent to run it." That was one of the worst defenses in USC history and historically got beat down. Many NFL teams, including ones within the division are going to a hurry up/college type offense and that is what Kiffin had issues with. WRs flooding the Tampa 2. We have no safeties so its a tough sell.

If you want my opinion Jerry is setting Garrett up to fail instead of getting rid of him after 2 seasons and then he will get a big name. I just see 2013 as wasted right now with how he is putting it together.

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by HoustonFrog

If you want my opinion Jerry is setting Garrett up to fail instead of getting rid of him after 2 seasons and then he will get a big name. I just see 2013 as wasted right now with how he is putting it together.

How long can Jones honestly handle a big name coach with an ego before he fires him or drives him insane and makes him "retire"?

[HoustonFrog]

Originally Posted by b0ng

How long can Jones honestly handle a big name coach with an ego before he fires him or drives him insane and makes him "retire"?

I don't know but he admitted that fan reaction gets to him. Last year got to him. The last time it did that and they missed the playoffs for so many years straight he hired Parcells. So we will see. I don't dislike Jason Garrett, I just don't think he is a good coach. He barely had experience as an OC and even then he wasn't that great. Just very raw and hasn't handled game management well.

[thunderkyss]

In all honesty, Jerry Jones brought two coaches to Dallas that won Super Bowls.

[Double Barrel]

I will always hate the Cowboys no matter how bad they suck.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

In all honesty, Jerry Jones brought two coaches to Dallas that won Super Bowls.

He brought one coach who won Super Bowls and one coach who managed to knock screw up a team with about 4 more should be hall of famers on it than have already been recognized.

[silvrhand]

Dallas Cowboys the new Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders with the owner that can't leave well enough alone.

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

In all honesty, Jerry Jones brought two coaches to Dallas that won Super Bowls.

20 years ago